This story is sponsored by: Marshfield Chips
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield girls basketball team was in desperate need of a win with the playoffs just two weeks away.
On Senior Night, the Tigers came to play. Marshfield forced 30 turnovers and shot 56 percent from the field in a dominating 79-47 win over Wausau West on Friday at Marshfield High School.
Two senior starters, McKenzie Holm and Zaida Kolbeck, scored 21 and 20 points, respectively, to lead the way for the Tigers (12-11, 8-2 Wisconsin Valley Conference).
Marshfield scored the first 10 points of the game, eventually pulled out to a 16-2 lead, and never looked back, ending a three-game losing streak.
“They knew what they had to do and they came out and they did it,” Marshfield coach Heidi Michaelis said. “On Senior Night, you never know how kids are going to feel about it. It’s a sad, but happy time. I’m proud of them. It’s been a tough couple of weeks with travel (four-straight road games), losing a game last night that was tough, so to come back tonight and be ready to go says a lot about them, their character and work ethic.
“The goal all of the time was to play their best basketball at the end of the season. We don’t always close out games, but the thing with basketball is there’s always an opportunity the next time, and tonight was the next time, and they came ready to go.”
Marshfield used another 10-0 run later in the half and took a 41-15 into the break.
The Tigers were able to get to the basket at will, with Kolbeck, Holm and Emma Ridgway scoring easy baskets to hold off any push Wausau West (8-16, 5-6 WVC) put forth.
Lauryn Katzenberger, who finished with 11 points, capped off the Tigers’ third 10-0 run of the game to push the lead to 73-36 and Marshfield was eventually able to finish off the victory.
Ayla Christensen led Wausau West with 21 points.
The WIAA playoff brackets will be announced Sunday and Michaelis said her team is ready.
“I feel like we know what it takes to win games, it’s just a matter of going out and executing,” Michaelis said. “We’re excited to be in the playoffs soon and go out and see what we can do. Playoffs are always fun and exciting. You can beat anyone on any given night and that’s the way we look at it.”
Marshfield will finish its regular-season schedule Thursday at Merrill.
Tigers 79, Warriors 45
Wausau West 15 32 – 47
Marshfield 41 38 – 79
WAUSAU WEST (47): Jaidyn Oelke 0-4 0-0 0, Addie Fochs 0-1 0-0 0, Ayla Christensen 7-11 5-7 21, Paige Anderson 6-10 2-7 14, Harper Mead 2-5 0-0 4, Kaitlyn Butler 0-2 1-2 1, Iris Waldvogel 2-8 0-0 5, Via Colwell 1-2 0-0 2, Sophia Seubert 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 18-43. FT: 8-16. 3-pointers: 3-10 (Christensen 2-2, Waldvogel 1-5, Fochs 0-1, Oelke 0-2). Rebounds: 17 (Butler 4, Colwell 4). Turnovers: 30. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: none. Record: 8-16, 5-6 Wisconsin Valley Conference.
MARSHFIELD (79): McKenzie Holm 10-12 0-0 21, Delaney Varsho 0-2 2-4 2, Gracie Ridgway 0-3 0-0 0, Zaida Kolbeck 7-14 6-6 20, Devyn LeMoine 0-0 0-0 0, Lily Adler 0-1 0-0 0, Hailey Klumb 3-9 3-4 9, Lauryn Katzenberger 4-7 3-3 11, Kylie Laufenberg 3-3 0-0 6, Emma Ridgway 4-4 2-4 10. FG: 31-55. FT: 16-21. 3-pointers: 1-7 (Holm 1-2, G. Ridgway 0-1, Kolbeck 0-2, Klumb 0-2). Rebounds: 30 (Katzenberger 7). Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: none. Record: 12-11, 8-2 Wisconsin Valley Conference.